V belt and method of making same



Feb. 17, 1953 R. R. RIEL ETAL 2,628,505

' v BELT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 12. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Robert R. Riel Richard A. claussgn BY rp 'e ATTORN Feb. 17, 1953 R. R. RIEL EI'AL 0 v BELT AND ma'mon or maxmc sms Filed Feb. 12. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet z 1 IN TORS olveri R. iel

ichard A. Claussen ATTORNE Feb. 17, 1953 R. .R. RIEL EI'AL 2,528,505

V BELT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 12. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Robert R. Riel Richard A. Claussen .AT TORN Feb. 17, 1953 R. R. RIEL EI'AL r 2,628,505

v BELT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 12. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheec 4 KZ /////fl /z Robert 'R.Riel

F 7. 15 q 1 Richard A. Claussen;

BY f-h ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v BELT AND METHOD or MAKING SAME Robert R. Riel and Richard A. Claussen, Wabash, Ind., assignors toThe GeneralTireand Rubber. Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 12, 1947, Serial No. 727,954

16 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Serial No. 648,182, filed February 16, 1946, now abandoned, and this invention relates to belts and more particularly toreinforced belts of rubber or like material and to a method of making the same. It has for one of its objects the provision of anew and improved-belt of such character.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a. belt in which thereinforcing means to resist elongation of the belt in use takes the form of a continuous. helical strand having the successive turns laid. up. inside by side relation and disposed substantially in a common plane.

Another object is: to provide. a .V-type of belt in which" annular reinforcing means, normally tensioned, is encased ina protective cover and disposed. radially outwardly of anaannular elastic cushion. normally compressed;

A further object ofthe invention is torprovide a new and improved methodof making a belt of the character mentioned, in which the reinforcing means and annular cushion are. initially assembled in one position and thereafter reversed, the belt thus: assembled, being cured in reversed position. More specifically, the invention aims to provide, in a method ofmaking'a belt, for. the assembled reinforcing means. and. cushioning means. to be compressed along thesidesof the belt during curing to: tension the reinforcing means and produce a belt inwhiclrthereinforcing means is normally under tension and the cushion means. is normally under compression; Other objects and advantages ofthe. invention reside in certain novel features of: construction, arrangement'of parts -and'stepsrin the process of manufacture. Theyiwill become apparent as the detailed description of. the. invention proceeds. This-description is made inconnection'with the accompanying "drawings inzwhichz" Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front:elevational view, partly in diagrammatic form, ofla suitable machine useful in making the'belt of the. present invention;

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary side elevational view, partly diagrammatic, of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is a fragmentary detail of the machine shown in Fig. 1,. taken substantially on the line 3-3. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1, showing schematically mechanism for laying up the relatively inextensible reinforcing bandof the belt;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional'detailin' di'agrammatic form through one ofv the drums ofthe apparatus of'thepreceding figures, showing one of the first stagesin the making, of" the belt of the present invention;

Fig; 6 isa sectional detail similar to Fig. 5. showing a succeeding step;

Fig. 7 is a similar-sectional detailshowing still another step;

Fig. 8 is a similarv sectional detail showing one of the final stages in the making of the beltof the present invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the belt as. removed from the building; machine and turned inside out readyfor curing;

Fig. 10' is a sectional detail of a suitableimulticavity mold such as may be used in curingibelts made in accordance with thepresent invention;

Fig. it is a; view like Fig. .5 but showing oneof the first stages in making a modified form of belt of the present invention;

Fig; 12 is a similar-sectional detailshowing a succeeding step in the manufacture of :the modified. form of belt;

Fig. 13 is a similar sectional detail. showing-still another step;

Fig. 14 is a similar sectional detail showing-one of" the final stages in making; themodified form of. a belt embodying the present invention;

Fig; 15. is an enlarged sectional detail showin the modified form. of belt as removed'fromthe building machine and turned inside-out. ready for curing;

Fig. 16- is a sectional detail of a portion. of a suitable multicavity mold. such as; may be; used in curing. the modified form of belts in accordance with the. present invention; and

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of-a portion of the modified form of belt, thev building .of.which is illustrated by Figs. lito l6, showingthe transverse slots spaced along the inner-periphery of the belt, which slots may bemade by removing, as by grindin or cutting, spaced inner peripheral portions of the belt as takenfrom the mold of Fig. 16.

Referring now to the drawings by letters and numerals of reference, which indicate like parts throughout the several views, the present invention is illustrated in connection with a relatively 'smali diameter V-type belt such as is used to drivedomestic refrigerators, washing machines and automobile fans. The principles of the invention, however, maybe applied with equal ad'- vantage to manufacture oflarger and difierent types of belts.

Referring to Fig. 1, there isshown-in diagramnratic form a band building machine, indicated generally at A, which includes a suitabl housing or frame structure I in which is mounted suitable gears and driving mechanism (not shown) for actuating rotatable cylindrical drums 2 and 3 positioned outside of the housing one above the other and supported cantilever fashion by parallel horizontal shafts 4 and 5. The drums are also disposed in parallel relation to one another and the shaft 5 for the lower drum 3 is so supported that it may be raised and lowered so as to move the drum 3 toward and away from the drum 2, while maintaining the drums in parallel relation. Drive means (not shown) is provided to rotate drum 2 in either direction and at different rates of speed under control of the operato-r.

The particular type of band building machine, shown in the drawing, used to make the belt of the present invention does not constitute an essential part of the present invention. Although the drums are shown one above the other, they may be arranged in side-'by-side relation on the same level if desired, or a band building machine of the collapsible drum type could also be used.

Although the belt making method is described as being performed on a single band building machine, it is contemplated that a series of machines may also be used so as to adapt the process to production methods in which successive steps 7 or operations of the process are performed by one operator or several operators on a number of machines each adjusted and set up for efficiently performing one or more steps or operations of the entire process. Furthermore, it is feasible, although not entirely practical from a commercial point of view, to perform the belt building method of the present invention manually or by hand Without using a band building drum or machine.

In inaking a V-type belt in accordance with the present invention astrip of rubber coated cord fabri material in uncured condition is fed onto and around the drums 2 and 3 to form a wrapping band 'i as shown in Fig. 2. material can be straight or bias-cut, preferably the latter. The ends of the strip of rubber, cord containing, sheet material used to form this band may be overlapped as shown at 6 in Fig. 3 and by reason of the tackiness of the material will adhere together. The wrapping band I is covered with a sheet or layer of relatively soft, uncured, rubber stock 8 which may be applied to the band I after the latter is in position on the drums 2 and 3 or, if desired, the cord fabric material of which the band I is formed may be first covered with the rubber sheet material 8 prior to being mounted on the drums.

At one side of the drum building machine A is mounted a reel B containing a continuous length of a relatively inextensible reinforcing strand indicated at 10. The strand It, which may be a cord of cotton, linen, rayon or similar material, is carried one or more turns about a tensioning drum or pulley II secured on a shaft l6 -supported in suitable journals not shown. Brake shoes, 22, pivoted at M, are held against a brake drum 15, also secured on shaft It, thereby resisting rotation of the drum H In this manner the drum ii serves as a tensioning device for resisting withdrawal of the reinforcing strand l9 from the reel B during the making of the belt, as will hereinafter appear.

From the drum H the strand in is carried under a guide pulley 2i journalled on a suitably Such fabric 4 supported shaft 2i, and thence over an even winding guide mechanism indicated generally at C. From the guide mechanism C the rein-forcing strand [0 is carried against the wrapping band comprising the cord fabric or sheet material I and the soft rubber sheet 8 carried by the drums 2 and 3. The even winding mechanism C is of conventional construction and operation and, if desired, may be mounted on the frame I of the band building machine A. It is the characteristic of the even windin mechanism C through gearing or other connection with the drive for the drum 2 to move the strand It axially during the rotation of the drums 2 and 3 a sufficient distance so that each successive turn or element of the strand it is disposed. on the soft rubber sheet 3 alongside of the preceding turn or element of the reinforcing strand and in the same plane therewith.

In the process of building the belt according to ie present invention the strand [9, after being passed by the operator across or through the even winding mechanism C, is placed against a central portion of the soft rubber sheet '8 cf the wrapping band. By reason of the tackiness of the soft rubber 8 in its uncured condition, the strand It may be readily adhered thereto, this operation being performed by the operator with the drums 2 and 3 stationary. The drum 2 is then rotated by means of the drive of the building machine A and the resulting movement of the wrapping band draws the reinforcing strand 50 from the reel B against the frictional restraint of the drum i i. Continued rotation of the drums 2 and 3 results in a multiplicity of turns or ele ments of the reinforcing strand It being laid up across the central portion of the belt material, the even winding mechanism 0 disposing the successive turns in side by side relation (Fig. 5). Thus a reinforcing means is provided which comprises a single continuous strand in the form of a helical coil, the several turns or elements of which are disposed substantially in a common plane, and are tensioned substantially an equal amount during the building process. As a result of this assembly process, the several turns of strands or ten-sioned elements are disposed in parallel, side by side relation with successive turns forming a surface perpendicular to the plan of the belt diameters or lying in a surface perpendicular to the plane of the belt diameters.

When a suitable number of turns or elements of the reinforcing strand it} have been laid up on the band and drums, the latter are stopped and the strand Hi severed at a point adjacent the drum 2. The number of turns or reinforcing elements to be laid up on the drums depends upon the particular design requirements of the belt being made, and upon the strength characteristics of the material used for the reinforcing strand Hi. It has been found that 6 to 16 turns are satisfactory for the average small belt and 8 turns or elements as shown in the drawings may be used successfully.

The turns or elements of the reinforcing strand cover only the central portion 'of the bias cut fabric band mounted on the drums 2 and 3. The projecting marginal portions of this fabric band are folded over one another and against the reinforcing elements or strand it to approximately the positions indicated in Fig. 6. Desirably the reinforcing strand is made to cover only approximately one-third of the fabric band so that, when the marginal portions of the latter are folded over one upon the other, they overlap ass ssors substantially across the entire width of the reinforcing band thus formed. It is to. be. noted that in this reinforcing band the relatively'soft rubber sheet material 8- is disposed against'the turns or elements of the reinforcingstrand l0 and the assembly retains itself together by" reason of the tackiness of the uncured rubber of the sheet 8 and in the fabric band I.

Lower drum 3 is then raised or moved toward upper drum 2, whichrelieves the tension:in..-the wrapped reinforcing band mounted about the two drums, so that the band may be removed from the drums.

With the wrapped reinforcing band off the drums 2 and 3, plies 24 and 25 of bias out rubberized fabric material are placed or disposed about the drums in a mannersimilar to' that described in connection with wrapping band I. Thereafter the drum 3 is moved upwardly to slacken the plies 2d and 25, so that the wrapped reinforcing band which was previously removed from the drums and which comprises the elements of the reinforcing strand I0 and the wrapping band '5' and the rubber 8 is again placed over the drums and positioned about the central portions of the plies 24 and 25 (Fig. 7). The drum 3 is then moved downwardly to tension the plies 24 and 25, which constitute a cover band, with the wrapped reinforcing band in position. In connection with this operation it is important that in building the cover band or plies 2d and 25 of bias cut rubber impregnated or coated fabric material, the drums 2 and 3 be spaced more closely together than they are in the building of the wrapping band 1. This is for the reason that the outside circumference of the cover band must correspond to theinternal circumference of the wrapped reinforcing band to permit mounting the wrapped reinforcing band on the drums over the plies 24 and 25 of the cover band in the manner just described.

A cushion 23 of relatively soft uncured rubber stock is positioned against the overlapped mar ginal portions of the Wrapping band I to which it adheres by reason of the tackiness of. the material. The cushion 25 is made to extend around the entire periphery of the band and may conveniently be placed while the drums 2 and 3 are rotated at a relatively slow rate. of speed. In making a belt of V-type the rubber cushion 25 is preferably formed asby extrusion with a cross section. of trapezoidal. shape, the widest surface being disposed against the band I.

Marginal portions of the cover plies 24 andv 25 are then folded over the outwardly. directed circumferential face. of the cushion stock or band 26. Preferably the marginal portions. of the ply 25 are first folded and then the marginal portions of the ply 24 sothat-thexseverali marginal portions are interleaved as shown in Fig. 8.

In this manner there is formed: a composite annulus comprising-a relatively inextensible reinforcing means wrapped in the bias cut fabric ply band i, which constitutes an enclosing sleeve or tube for the reinforcing means. Disposed about the outer circumference. of the wrapped reinforcing means or band is the relatively soft rubber annulus or cushion 26 and thewholeis covered by the woven fabric material of the plies 24 and 25. This composite annulus is removed from the drums 2 and 2i by raising the latter drum, after which the annulus is. turned inside out to a reverse. position in whichthe-i circular.

cushion. 26 is: disposed radially inwardlyof the tubezonsleeve. containing the relatively inextensible reinforcingimeans. formed .by'the several elements'of theistrand l0; Thisreversed or turned position" or statexof the composite annulus. is indicated inxFi'g. 9. By reason of the relative inextensibility'ofthehelical reinforcing strand H]; the; cushion: annulus 2B2is placed under compression" when it"iss turned to. the." inside. Conversely the elasticity of the rubber cushion 26 now" under compression exerts: a force which tensions: the elements of the. reinforcing strand H1.-

The composite annulus with the elements thereof stressedtin the manner described is placed ina suitable mold'for curing Such amold is illustrated'in, partin' Fig; 10 and comprises an end mold section 21, intermediate mold sections 285andrings'29; The meeting'faces of'the mold sections Hand 28? are'formed todefine. circular orannular' cavities which have side walls 36 and inner peripheral walls 3!. These circular cavities have the cross sectional shape of'the desiredIV-type belt that' is:.to be made. The mold rings 29 define outer peripheral faces- 32 of the several mold cavities and the adjacent mold rings may be arranged to abut one another in end to end 'relation as shown. As manyofthe mold sections 28 may be placed together as is desired andas canbe accommodated in the mold press or heater (not shown) which is to be used in the curing operation'all in accordance'with conventional molding practice. If desired a number of through bolts. one of which is indicated at 34, maybe used'tddrawthe moldsections together, there beinganother endrmold section (not shown) corresponding to the end-section 2!.

When the composite annuluses in reversed positions and in uncured condition are first 'placed in themold cavities theyhave the shape shown approximately by the broken lines-indicated at .35? (Fig. 10), the sidewalls or faces being bulged'outwardly. During: the final closing of the moldas by ti'ghteningr of the through bolts: 34. the annuluses are forced or compressed into the shape. desirediandtas indicated by the full lines of Fig, 10. R'ubberbeing incompressible, thereinforcing means comprising, the spiral or helical strand. lllfistensionedandmaintained in such tensioned. condition during the-molding operatier-r.v Thus. the. belt formed: by the method or processroffthe presentinvention is: less subjectto objectionable stretching or. elongation in use than belts made by conventional methods-l A- conventional heater cropen steam heatingzmay be employed for curing. Uponbeing releasedzfrom the mold',..the tension: in the. reinforcing strand it maintains; a: slight; compression in the. cushion bodyyw which is'icircumferentially embraced by the-spiral. strand 10. During the. molding operationrexcess rubber. maybe expelled: from:each of the'..mold.cavities into flash grooves 36 and 3?. These grooves, which. areformed in the meeting faces of themold. sections, may be circumferentially disposedzadjaoent to the mold cavities and are-connectedto one; another'and to the mold oavitiesb-y narrow fissures or cracks in accordance with welleknown molding practice.

Also in the curing ofthebeltsathe: heat applied :to'the' mold in accordance with conventional molding=-practice.softens the; sheet rubber 8 comprisingpart of thesleeve which embraces or retainsthe inextensible spiral strand I0, so that the relatively soft rubber-:flows between adjacent elements of the strand l0, substantially com- 'pletely embedding the reinforcing elements in the rubber, as shown in Fig. 10. In addition the rubber impregnating the fabric bands I, 24, and 25 is softened and flows together firmly and permanently bonding the several parts of the belt together into a substantially integral whole with the cord elements of the fabric bands and the reinforcing strand It! so embedded as to be efiectively protected against moisture, chemicals and abrasive action.

Building belts in accordance with the procedure outlined above effects substantial economy in manufacture for the reason that power machinery may be utilized in assembling the parts and in compacting the plies or bands to-;

gether in forming the composite annuluses ready for curing. In the step of folding the wrapping band I around the spiral strand I 0, suitable plows or turning devices well known in the art may be employed, although of course it is contemplated:

that this operation may be done by hand, if it is not desired to use turning tools or if they be not available. Similarly the bands or plies of fabric material 2 and may be turned by hand or by turning tools, this turning being accomplished;

either while the drums 2 and 3 are stationary, rotating slowly or rotating at relatively high speed, in accordance with the skill and technique of the operator.

.Figs. 11 to 17, inclusive, illustrate the making of 11 to 17, inclusive, to designate these respective parts are, with the exception of the numbers applied to the building drum, spaced by a hundred digits from the numerals used for the corresponding components of the trapezoidal shaped belt and mold used in making it.

In making the triangular shaped V-type belts, a strip of rubber-coated fabric in the uncured condition may be fed around the same drums 2 and 3 as used for forming the trapezoidal shaped V-type belts to form the wrapping band I07.

The band IIJ'I may be identical with the band I and is covered with a rubber sheet I08, which I may be applied in the same manner as the rubber stock 8 of Figs. 5 to 10.

The inextensible reinforcing material III) may be identical with and may be applied to'the rubber sheet I08 in the same manner as the strands I0 of the earlier modification are applied to the rubber sheet 8. The number of turns of the inextensible reinforcing material IIll used depends upon the particular width desired in the belt being made and the diameter of the reinforcing strands. The reinforcing strands cover only the central portion of the fabric band and the marginal portions of this band are folded over one another and against the reinforcing elements I III, as indicated in Fig. 12. The overlap of the marginal portions of the band preferably extend substantially across the entire Width of the reinforcing band thus formed. The reinforcing band is placed over the cover plies I24 and I25 in the same manner as the reinforcing band, illustrated in the earlier figures of the drawing, is placed over the plies 24 and 25.

The cushion stock I26 is of more nearly triangular shaped section than that of stock 26 of the trapezoidal form belt and is applied in form in'the same manner as the cushion 26. Marginal portions of the cover plies I 24 and 525 are then folded over the outwardly directed surface of the cushion stock I26. Preferably, the marginal portions of the ply 325 are first folded and then the marginal portions of the ply I25, so that the several marginal portions are interleaved, as shown in Fig. 8, to form a composite annulus. This composite annulus is removed from the drums 2 and 3 in the same manner as the annuhit of the earlier figure of the drawing and reversed or turned as indicated in Fig. 15 so that an apex I BI of the triangular shaped annulus constitutes an inner periphery thereof.

The composite annulus is placed in suitable mold, such as illustrated in Fig. 16, for curing. The mold comprises an end mold section I22, intermediate mold sections I28, and mold rings IZfi. The meeting faces of the mold sections I27 and I28, and the mold ring sze are shaped to provide annular cavities which have side walls I35 and outer peripheral surfaces 532. As many mold sections I23 may be placed together as desired. Bolts 534 may be used to draw the mold section-s together, there being another end mold section (not shown) corresponding to the end section IZ'i. When the composite annulus illustrated in Fig. 15 is placed in the mold cavity, the apices of the -triangle are relatively rounded. During the final closing of the mold, as by tightening of the bolts I34, the annulus is compressed into the desired triangular shape; as shown in Fig. 16. The tensioning of the reinforcing means takes place in the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 10.

After curing with a suitable heater or open steam heating, and after release from the mold, the inner peripheral apex is preferably slotted by grinding spaced, transverse slots having side walls I08, as shown in Fig. 17. The depth of the slots preferably extends from the inner peripheral apex IilI to about one-third or one-half the distance through the cushion member I26. During molding, the excess rubber may be expelled from each of the mold cavities into the flash grooves I33 which are formed in peripheral portions of the mold sections I21 and I28 adjacent the edges of the annular cavities in accordance with wellknown molding practice.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of belt and apparatus shown and described and the particular materials and procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications, substitutions and alterations are contemplated and can be made without departing from our invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A Ibelt comprising a solid rubber annulus having an outwardly directed circumferential face, a relatively flat fabric tube of substantially greater internal Width than thickness disposed against the outwardly directed face, a reinforcing means disposed in the tube and including a series of parallel elements extending circumferentially about the annulus and disposed so that the lines of centers of said element formed by cutting said belt by a single axial plane are parallel, and a iabric cover embracing the annulus, tube and elements.

2. A belt comprising a solid rubber annulus having an outwardly directed circumferential face, a relatively flat fabric tube disposed against 9 the outwardly dire'ctediface with the greatestdimension of said tube in an axial .direction, a reinforcing means disposed in the tube and in cluding a series of parallel elements extending circumferentially about the annulus all of which lie in a single curvilinear surface generated by a line parallel to the axis about which it moves, and a fabric cover-having central and edge portion-s, said cover being positioned with the central portion thereof overlying the tube and the edge portions lapped one; over the .otheragainst the inwardly directed face of the annulus.

3. A belt comprising a rubber annulus having inwardly and outwardly directed circumferential faces, .a fabric tube disposed against the outwardly directed face, a-continuous helical reinforcing strand containing a multiplicity of turns disposed .in the tube and extending circumferentially about the annulus, and a fabric cover embracing the annulus, tuleand said helical reinforcing. strand.

4. A belt comprising a rubber annulus having inwardly and outwardly directed circumferential faces, a fabric tube disposed against the outwardly directed face, a continuous reinforcing strand containing a multiplicity of turns disposed in the tube and extending circumferentially about the annulus, the adjacent turns being inside by side relation and being concentricwith the outwardly directed circumferential face .of .said annulus,

anda fabric cover embracing the annulus, tube and continuous reinforcingstrand.

5. A belt comprising a rubber annulus having inwardly and outwardly directed circumferential f aces, afabrictube disposedagainst the outward- 1y directedfacea reinforcing means disposed in the tube and extendin circumferentially about the annulus, :said means .including a series of turns of tensioned elements in parallel side by side relation with successive turns forming a surface perpendicular to the plane of the belt diameters, and cover means embracing the annulus, tube and reinforcing means.

6. A belt comprising a rubber annulus having an outwardly directed circumferential face, a reinforcing means extending circumferentially about the annulus, said means including a series of turns of tensioned elements disposed in side by side, parallel relation diameters with successive turns in a surface perpendicular to the plane f the belt, the annulus being circumferentially compressed and the elements being tensioned, a fabric tube embracing the reinforcin means and separating said tensioned elements from the annulus, and cover means embracing the annulus and said tensioned elements.

7. A continuous belt comprising a rubber annulus having inwardly and outwardly directed circumferential faces, a relatively flat fabric tube having an internal width several times the internal thickness, said tube being disposed against the outwardly directed face, a rubber cushion within the tube, a reinforcing means in the tube and including a series of turns of parallel elements embedded in the cushion and disposed so that successive turns lie in a surface perpendicular to the plane of the belt diameters and extending circumferentially about the annulus, and a fabric cover embracing the annulus, tube and elements.

8. A belt comprising a rubber annulus of a solid cur-ed rubber compound, a fabric tube having greater internal width than thickness disposed against the annulus and reinforcing elements extending through the tube and circum- 9. belt-comprising-a-solid rubber annulus, an

oblong fabrictube havingrelatively largeinternal width to thickness ratio and being disposed against the outer surfac of :said annulus, reinforcing elements extending through the tube and circumferentially about theannulus, the annulus being icircumferentially under compression and the elements being 'under tension, and a fabric coverembracing theannulus, tube and elements.

10. The method :of making an annular reinforced irubber belt which comprises forming a rubberized fabric tube about an annular reinforcing band .of substantially inextensib-le material, iwhich .band has .a plurality of successive turns of said inextensible material in a single surfacegenerate'db a line perpendicular to the plane -.of said tube and which tube has great internal width relative to internal thickness, placing about theouter' circumference of said tube a cushion of elastic rubber vmaterialand adhering the cushion to the band to form a composite annulus, 'turning'the annulus inside out to .re-

verse the relative positions of the cushion-and band whereby the band is tensioned and the elastic cushion is compressed .circumferentially, and curingsthe turned annulus while'holding the same :in reversed position.

'11. Thamethod 10f :making an annular reinforced rubber belt which comprises forming an annular reinforcing band of substantially inextensible material on a strip of sheet material,

folding side edges ofsaid-strip of sheet'material about said reinforcing band to form :a tube of rubberized fabric enclosing said annular reinforcing band, placing about the outer circumference of the tube thus formed a continuous elastic band of elastic rubber material and adhering the elastic band to the tube to form a composite annulus, covering the annulus with suitable fabric, turning the covered annulus inside out to reverse the relative positions of the elastic band and reinforcing band whereby the reinforcing band is tensioned and the elastic band is compressed circumferentially, and curing the turned annulus while holding the same in reversed position.

12. The method of making an annular reinforced rubber belt which comprises forming an annular reinforcing band of inextensible material in the form of a helical reinforcing strand,

'wrapping the band in rubber containing sheet material while maintaining said helix to form a flattened tube about said band, placing about the outer circumference of the wrapped band a cushion of relatively elastic rubber material and adhering the cushion to the wrapped band to form a composite annulus, turning the annulus inside out to reverse the relative positions of the cushion and wrapped band, and curing the turned annulus while holding the same in reversed position.

13. The method of making an annular reinforced rubber belt which comprises forming an annular reinforcing band of substantially inextensible material in the form of a helical reinforcing strand, wrapping the band in rubber sheet material while maintaining said. helix, placing about the outer circumference of the wrapped band a continuous cushion of elastic rubber material and adhering the cushion to the wrapped band to form a composite annulus, covering the 11 f annulus with rubberized fabric, turning the covered annulus inside out to reverse the relative positions of the cushion and Wrapped band, and curing the turned, cushioned annulus while holding the same in reversed position.

14. The method of making an annular reinforced rubber belt which comprises forminga band of rubber sheet material, rotating the band, feeding a substantially inextensible reinforcing strand onto the rotating band to build thereon a reinforcing band, wrapping the sheet material band about the reinforcing band, placing about the outer circumference of the wrapped band a cushion of elastic rubber material and adhering the cushion to the band to form a composite annulus, turning the annulus inside out to reverse the relative positions of the cushion and wrapped band, and curing the turned annulus while holding the same in reversed position.

15. The method of making an annular reinforced rubber belt which comprises forming a band of rubber and fabric containing sheet material, rotating the band, feeding a substantially inextensible reinforcing strand onto the rotating band and guiding the strand during a plurality of revolutions of the band to lay up a reinforcing band of a multiplicity of turns of the reinforcing strand disposed in side by side relation, wrapping the sheet material band about the reinforcing band, placing about the outer circumference of the wrapped band a continuous cushion of elastic rubber material and adhering the cushion to the wrapped band to form a composite annulus, turning the annulus inside out to reverse the relative positions of the cushion and wrapped band, and curing the turned annulus while holding the same in reversed position.

16. The method of making an annular rein- 12? forced rubber belt which comprises forming an annular reinforcing band of substantially inextensible material, wrapping the band with rubber and fabric sheet material to form a wrapped band, placing about the outer circumference of the wrapped band a cushion of elastic rubber material and adhering the cushion to the wrapped band to form a composite annulus, covering the annulus with rubberized fabric, turning the covered annulus inside out to reverse the relative positions of the cushion and wrapped band whereby the band is tensioned and the continuous elastic cushion is compressed circumferentially, compressing side portions of the turned covered annulus to increase the radial depth of the annulus, and curing the turned annulus while compressing the same and holding it in reversed position, said wrapped band having a width several times the thickness.

ROBERT R. RIEL. RICHARD A. CLAUSSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,494,075 Murray May 13, 1924 1,657,300 Delzell Jan. 24, 1928 1,906,397 Meyer May 2, 1933 1,924,083 Carter et a1 Aug. 22, 1933 1,930,747 Gerstenslager Oct. 17, 1933 1,939,859 Matthias Dec. 19, 1933 1,969,067 Freeman Aug. 7, 1934 1,998,816 Meyer Apr. 23, 1935 2,255,884 Hedgepeth Sept. 16, 1941 

